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Growing up in the Chicago area, Chris Zajdzinski describes his Baptist upbringing as a great formation and experience. He felt a close personal relationship from an early age, though he was not baptized until much later. At 17, his family moved to Arizona and became heavily involved in a nondenominational church. It was there he met his wife. Following a decade of ministry, a pastor friend challenged him about the importance of God’s kingdom in his life. This led to a focused period of prayer, fasting and almsgiving for Chris ... more

As we approach the end of the year, the election is behind us while a horrendous economic crisis still looms ahead—especially for our children and grandchildren! I’m writing this article primarily to fellow former clergy who are Catholic converts or still somewhere along the journey, but also to you who support and pray for our work, for hearing this helps you understand why your support and prayers are necessary. ... more

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Growing up in the 1940s and 50s, I was blessed with a happy childhood in a loving family of four, including one older brother. My parents taught us the “old fashioned” values of honesty, goodness, kindness, and viewing all persons with respect. I was baptized as an infant in St. Augustine by-the-Sea Episcopal Church. The only religious instruction in our home was learning the Lord’s Prayer. My mother would say this prayer with me almost every night at bedtime. This ... more

It was the great hymns and potluck suppers that Don Brey remembers best about his days growing up in the Methodist tradition, not necessarily the church doctrines. Don credits his parent’s lived-out faith for his commitment to integrity and truth. Still, it was not until college that Don encountered the living Christ. Becoming active in evangelical groups while at Ohio Wesleyan University and Yale Law School, shaped Don in his future profession. It also led him from the Methodist Church into the Episcopal Church where he was active for ... more

Taylor Marshall learned the basic tenets of the Christian faith through his friend’s Lutheran Church. In high school, Taylor experienced a profound religious experience and soon felt a calling to the ministry. While reading and studying in college, he found the Anglican Church, which, in his mind, was the best of both worlds of Catholicism and Protestantism. Following seminary, he was ordained as an Episcopal priest in the diocese of Fort Worth, Texas. At the fifth anniversary of their wedding, Taylor and his wife Joy went to Rome. It ... more

Country music star Collin Raye grew up in Arkansas near the Texas border, in a Christian family that was predominantly Southern Baptist. From an early age Collin knew Jesus and made his public affirmation in Baptism at age 12. His mother was musical and both parents encouraged the musical development of their children. While in high school, Collin and his brother had a band that performed in local nightclubs and following graduation went where they could be paid to play. Eventually they ended up in Reno, NV. Collin’s faith was ... more

The divorce of his parents at a young age had a significant impact on Chris Padgett growing up in North Dakota. It brought his mother back to church in the southern Baptist tradition and formed Chris in the foundation of faith through church services, scripture memorization and interaction with fellow believers. Singing became an important venue for his faith and walk with the Lord. The family moved on to the Nazarene denomination and then the Assemblies of God. Chris went to college in Florida and became immersed in a life ... more

In the early days of the Pentecostal movement, the grandfather of Dr. George Harne moved from Maryland to Pensacola, Florida to start a new church and to host a radio program. This environment shaped Dr. Harne for the first seventeen years of his life. His grandfather’s example and the teachings of the denomination left Dr. Harne with a sense that “God is everywhere and working at all times”. With college came the broadening of his religious perspective, particularly through the study of history and his involvement in a Christian ... more

His mother was from the Methodist tradition while his father, one of twelve children, came from a decidedly Catholic background. Shane Kapler, found himself in Catholic schools, but because of a falling out between his father and the parish priest, not attending Sunday Mass as a family. His father would, however, continue in the Catholic faith through audio tapes and personal Bible Study. Even as a middle-schooler, Shane was a deep thinker in regards to religion. He studied scripture and read about various faith traditions. His first divine encounter assured ... more

Browsing the religion section of the local used bookstore, I caught sight of a peculiar volume, the black and red ink on the spine contrasting sharply against the drab surroundings. “Now, there’s an oxymoron!” I thought to myself as I reflected on the book’s title, which read Catholic and Christian. Intrigued by the apparent paradox, I reluctantly grasped the book from the shelf and began reading, beginning with the ornate back cover. The author was a certain Dr. Alan Schreck, a professor of theology at Franciscan University of ... more

Since becoming Catholic, I have been asked numerous times “why?” “Why are you doing this?” Many Catholics have asked with excitement in their voices, and my non-Catholic family and friends have asked with dismay. Interestingly, no one asks void of emotion. ... more

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